sufficiently laborious to work for myself. Why, I don't make enough to keep myself in light kid gloves.

Then you ought to wear dark,' said Lilias.

Leonard laughed at the impertinence of the suggestion, and rolled up the straw-coloured gloves in question into a pellet, which he threatened to throw at her.

'Where are the others ?' he asked presently.

'Papa and Mamma are out. I don't know where Susan is.'

Preparing her vanities for the evening, I suppose,' said Leonard, as he stood on the rug, inspecting the cards of invitation. Who is at home tonight? Dancing early at Lady Lewis's, I perceive.'

'Yes,' said Lilias, but I do not suppose that they are going. For you know it is Mamma's rule not to go to a ball two nights running.'

'Ah, we all know what Mamma's rules are worth,' said Leonard disrespectfully: 'they are very convenient and elastic, and don't stand in the way of a good ball. Don't you wish that your gay days were come, Lily?'

'Not for the sake of the gaiety,' replied Lilias, 'only because then I should have done with the schoolroom.'

'I should be in no such haste in your place. For Ailie-Miss Alison-is more agreeable than the majority of people to be found in a drawing-room. There is a refinement and repose of manner, just what I shall require in Mrs. Leonard Wray. High spirits are a great mistake in a woman.'

'You are afraid of having a wife too mighty for you.'

Perhaps; but without meddling with my wife, who is a problematical possession, I want to know what fault you find with Ailie. Susan makes a friend of her still.'

'And so should I, if she were not my governess; for I like her very much.'

That is candid,' said Leonard, laughing. 'I always suspected that you were a liberal at heart.'

6

It is no secret,' replied Lilias; any one might know that Susan and I do not agree in politics.'

'Or in anything else. And it is amusing that Susan, who, with her rude health and high spirits, ought to aim at practical common-sense, should persist in taking the romantic line, while not even the name of Lily has infused any poetry into your composition.'

'No,' said Lilias, rather dolorously; 'even Patty says that I am commonplace.'

'To be called commonplace by Patty!-that is humiliating. But never mind: you will make a noise in the world yet.'

Lilias smiled, soberly enough, and obeyed the summons to the schoolroom tea.

Mrs. Mordaunt entered the room before Leonard had finished his perusal of the 'Spectator.' Though no longer young, her beauty threw the attractions of her daughter into the shade. She was tall and stately, very well dressed, and her movements were singularly graceful. Her manner possessed the pleasant frankness so popular with

young men, and she counted her nephew Leonard among her most devoted admirers.

He looked up, and accused Aunt Helen of using him very ill in staying out so late.

6

'I am so sorry !' said Mrs. Mordaunt, who was apt to be glad and sorry in a breath, passing through both phases with perfect sincerity; but John came home early from the office, and we have had the most delightful walk. I hope that you have not been very dull, waiting all alone.'

'I have survived it, and I have not been long alone, since I found Lily here, looking like a faded specimen.'

'Ah, yes, poor child! London never agrees with her, but the Mains will set her up again, and I hope that we shall get away in three weeks.'

'You hope!' repeated Leonard; that is very unfeeling, when I shall be left homeless and forsaken.’

'As if you had not a larger acquaintance than any young man I know. I cannot afford you any pity. John thinks that you idle your time away with us, and you must really work hard when we are gone.'

Leonard was beginning an animated defence of his application and industry, when he was interrupted by the entrance of his uncle. Mr. Mordaunt was some years older than his wife, and he looked older than he really was, his stooping form, sallow complexion, and scattered grey hairs revealing the traces of a sedentary life.

'So, Leo,' he said, nodding to Leonard, who scarcely vouchsafed to acknowledge the careless greeting, 'have you brought us any news?'

'How should I?' he replied, when I have been reading law all day. I have not been near the Club, nor even looked at a paper until just

now.'

'It is surprising,' observed Mr. Mordaunt, 'that such hard work does not tell on your constitution.' Leonard certainly looked as if he took life as easily as most people, his erect and athletic frame and fresh colouring betraying no sign of excessive application. But he disdained to notice the sarcasm, and turned again to his aunt.

'I have come to ask for news, and not to give it. I did not understand your allusion to Mr. Cornwall in the note I received this morning, and I was discreet enough not to ask Lily, lest it should be a secret.'

'It is no secret; I thought I had told you the other day. Probably you never heard of his sister, Mrs. Leigh, who married to displease her family, and her brother in particular, whose temper is, you know, not the most equal in the world. The husband was unsatisfactory, squandered what money he had, and neglected his wife, if he was not positively unkind. I believe that Mr. Cornwall supported them latterly, though they had no intercourse. Now he writes that he has been summoned to see his sister once more, upon her deathbed, adding that he proposes to bring away the children if possible.'

'So there are children in the case; and how many? Old Cornwall will not find them pleasant inmates after keeping house for so many years with only Madge.'

'It is evident from his letter that he undertakes the charge without any delusion. There is a boy and girl, and they cannot be mere children, at least I remember the marriage took place the year of Roger's birth.'

A boy, too, to cut out Susan from the succession! For you know that I always considered her the heiress of Duck Dub.'

'Yes, I know; but it was a very absurd idea,' said Mrs. Mordaunt, a slight discomposure of manner betraying that she had also cherished such an expectation among her most secret thoughts.

'Although,' continued Leonard, 'euphony must forbid her to take possession until the name is changed by Act of Parliament.'

'Are you railing against Duck Dub as usual ?' said Susan, entering the room; it is a very good

name.'

'Oh, excellent!' said Leonard drily.

There is a pleasant quaintness about it,' continued Susan, 'quite in character with its owner. But, oh, Leonard! will you not condole with me about this invasion of our rights and privileges ? The idea of his setting up a niece of his own!'

'It is unjustifiable,' said Leonard; the niece must be suppressed.'

'My dear Leonard,' said his aunt, who felt it the more necessary to discourage these sentiments because they echoed her own; 'it is very heartless to say such things. We must be particularly kind to the poor girl.'

'I was only assenting to Susan, Aunt Helen,'